Manures for the garden

Wonder if I am missing something, I can't seem to find a forum for gardening here, so guess it goes under general chatting.

So, yes, my vegetable gardens are doing fantastic, with using chicken and a little horse manure. But I am wondering how goat manure compares to other manures for use. There is a goat farm not far from here and I am thinking of adding this type of manure to the manure pile for next year. Well...dependent upon if it is hot or what or needs to be composted or not, how does it compare to horse and chicken manures? I like to also make compost tea for the gardens.

With compost tea, can manure from the chicken house (you know, the deep bedding manure) be used, or is it way too hot. Lots of deep elaboration on this would be wonderful, bring it on!!!

I have a wonderful technique for growing tomoatoes. It is a radical method and I won't know until all is said and done if it works. But we purchased an e-magazine/book on tomato growing and I am testing the theories. Basically is almost growing tomatoes without any leaves, save the few on the top of each stem. According to this book/magazine, tomoatoes do not require a whole lotta leaf to grow. They require warmth (yes, sunshine is good, but not overly imperative, a little goes a long ways) and lots of airflow. So most leaves are removed. Evidently the leaves take away from the growing power of the plant. The plants I have look pretty sparse, and are almost scarey looking, but I am sure seeing a whole lotta tomatoes. So a year of experiment, got nothing to lose. New to gardening in this climate, so I am willing to try anything, once....maybe twice or forever if it really works. Comes from a Polish fellow that had a Grandfather that grew the most incredible tons of tomatoes in a very small area. Paid about $30 for the booklet, wonder if there is a moneyback guarantee. I'll keep posted on how things grow. It is interesting, to say the least. I know that the heavy leaves on tomoato plants sure can have a detrimental effect, especially if they get wet for too long, that blight is a nasty thing, you know, that late season blight. Time will tell that tale. Have a beautiful and awesome day, CynthiaM.

Cynthia, I know nothing about goat manure, but it seems to me that all manure needs to be composted for a year except Rabbit. Sure would be interested in learning more myself.

I have a tomato growing book that Lois Hole wrote, and I am sure this spring when I was looking threw it there was a picture of tomatoes that were bare like that, really that does make a whole lot of sense. I have alot of tomatoes in the garden that I planted two of, going to try and prune one and leave the other to see if there is much difference. Of course this wouldn't work for a determinate tomato, right?

I believe that Rabbit, Sheep , Goat and any other manure that comes out in pellet form is safe the first year , actually I use what ever I can when i get it .Chicken , hog ,manures are very hot and as such will produce a good growth , but the downside is that all the plants energy will be towards growth ( great for corn )and so if used say for potatoes there will be as good as nothing going into the potatoe ? I did this once with chicken manure from a broiler farm and the potatoes looked like Lilac Bushs , bloomed like crazy ....but only one or two potatoes under each plant ? now the tomatoes , well I've never had so many on one plant ,the branch's were breaking off ?

chickeesmom wrote:

I have a tomato growing book that Lois Hole wrote, and I am sure this spring when I was looking threw it there was a picture of tomatoes that were bare like that, really that does make a whole lot of sense. I have alot of tomatoes in the garden that I planted two of, going to try and prune one and leave the other to see if there is much difference. Of course this wouldn't work for a determinate tomato, right?

I don't believe it makes a difference if the tomatoes are indeterminate or determinate. It is the aspect that leaves shade the growing fruit and harbour moisture. I have pruned my indeterminate and determinate tomatoes the same. It all makes sense to me. The author of the e-book (a very short book) indicates that tomatoes do not require a whole lot of leaves to process incredible yields of tomoatoes. It indicates that the leaves suppress the growth of the fruit, as the energy is put forth to produce leaves. I will add more to this topic when I peruse again the things that I have read and absorbed. I honestly believe what this fellow preaches. And.....indicating that you read that tomato book by Lois Hole, that says the pictures of the plants were bare, totally corroborates what I have been reading. He said they look so bare, but produce so much more fruit, power to the fruit, not the green growth of the plant. No late blight, as there is nothing to harbour fungus infection. The other thing indicated was that they require lots and lots of moisture. Every day watering if it can be so, and around the same time of day. He stressed lots of water.....beautiful and wonderful day, CynthiaM.